The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1862.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 967, 15 February 1862, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1862.

In our last issue may be found a notice informing- the Volunteers of New Zealand that they are disbanded, while at the same time are published new regulations under which the public are invited by the Government to come forward and re-enrol themselves in the service of their country. No one seems to have been aware that any step of the kind was in contemplation, and it is to be feared that the feeling of surprise among- those most immediately concerned is at least equalled by that of dissatisfaction. However desirable it may have been to remodel the existingregulations affecting- the volunteer system throughout the colony, it is generally felt that, if a real desire exists on the part of the Government to foster a spirit of volunteeringamong the people, a vei7> foolish step has been taken as a commencement towards that end in so summarily—we might say cavalierly —disbanding the'existmg- force.

The history of volunteering in this colony,' certainly in this province, has been the history of a continued struggle against every kind of difficulty and drawback. Considered as a system, volunteering absolutely requires the countenance and support of public feeling and opinion or it can never flourish. The same spirit which animates the volunteer in a higher degree, and causes him to. devote- his time and energy to the,service of his country, must, though perhaps in a lesser degree, pervade all classes of the' people. . The volunteer ; must be the actual representative of a certain deep-seated feeling anil conviction on the part of the nation, or he is less than nothing—a thing- without meaning- or aim. . The peculiar state of public feeling which calls the spirit of volunteering into existence may generally be traced either to a sense of. immediate jdanger, or to the more settled conviction that it is the first duty of a community to provide its own means of defence. In either of these cases, those who answer to the call and volunteer their services represent public opinion at the time by supplying an urgent want, and generally receive, as they deserve, ample public support and encouragement.

This will be found to apply to the Volunteers of this province, who have never represented public opinion or satisfied any urgent public want, simply for the reason that the people of Canterbury have hitherto had no reason to fear immediate danger or to feel that it is their duty to provide the means for the defence of their own country. It is therefore hardly surprising that we hear the Volunteers complain of having 1 been treated With carelessness and indifference ■ that, while the}' have come forward, often at great inconvenience to themselves, and devoted both time and money to the service of the country, they have received only a tardy support and recognition from the Government, while all classes of their fellow-men have studiously refrained, as a rule, from payingeven those ordinary compliments which in other countries are considered as well-merited proofs of sympathy and gratitude from the people to their gallant defenders.

On the eve of being disbanded, it is now top late to hope for any public recognition of the spirit and self denial displayed by those men who have regularly answered to the roll call and attended to the duties they had undertaken. They must rest contented with the formal thanks of the Government and the knowledge that they liaye done thfiir duty under every disadvantage. They answered a public call of the moment, and have been left ever

since without, public countenanco and support. They pereovertfd without', encouragement, und without arms, till -numbevrt got sickened of appearing at drill without any apparent object, j nnd gradually discontinuod thv'n- attendance. 'At hist a very modwate supply of arms arrived, nnd about the same time the Provincial Council voted, or intended to vote (for it is said that a flaw in the ■ordinance renders it comparatively useless), a sum of money to help to meet the necessary expenses, The aspect of things was beginning to brighten for the Volunteer, nnd hopes of a more exciting future were being entertained, when the news arrived that the force was disbanded. This may have been a necessity on the part of the Government, but it cannot be denied that it has fallen with peculiar hardship on those members, especially the officers, who have taken an active interest in the existing* companies. Considerable expense has been incurred even lately, partly on the faith of Government promises, and partly because volunteering had come to be looke.l upon as a permanent institution, and recent changes of uniform have been carried out in most of the companies. The cost of these matters will have to be borne by : the members of each company, and is another grievance added to the previous list, certainly at a most unfortunate time. The Auckland papers report a meeting of Volunteers to consider the new regulations, where it was agreed that each company should appoint four delegates to take the whole matter into consideration. The opinion of the meeting seems to have been divided on the nature of the new regulations, some considering1 them favorable, while otherjs took an opposite view of the case. It will shortly devolve upon the Canterbury Volunteers to consider what they will do. Among those who desire the real progress of volunteering, we think the new regulations will find favor. While additional power is given to officers to compel attendance, a most necessary regulation by the bye, the Volunteer is left perfectly free to remain or retire. The appointment of commissioned officers is still indirectly in the hands of the men, and that of non-commis-sioned officers entirely so, while some check is imposed on the election of incompetent persons by the fact that an examination is required, where officers have riot previously held a commission in the; regular army. A sum of £75 a year is to be granted to each company ,mustering sixty men, which will be a welcome aid towards meeting1 part of the ■ordinary expenses, while the government announce their intention of proposing to the House of Representatives that the family of any officer killed in service shall receive the same rate of pension as they would have "been :entitled to had he been an officer of a similar rank in the regular army ; non-commissioned ■officers and privates will be entitled to rank with ensigns in the Queen's forces. It is now clearly evident that the tendency of imperial policy is to leave the colonies to .provide their own means of defence on all but exceptional occasions, and in all but special cases. At the present moment New Zealand ranks among the latter, but sooner or later we may rest satisfied that we shall come under the general rule arid have to defend the country at our own cost. When once Maori disputes are ended, and the troops fairly with- ! .drawn, the government will have to organise measures for the defence of the colony. It is therefore most desirable that the Volunteer system should not be permitted to die out by neglect or mismanagement. Every encourage.'merit should be given it both by the local and general Governments in. the shape of pecuniary grants and the distribution of prizes and special honors. Men should be induced to join by .every means, nor should it any longer be left a doubtful matter whether their self denial and .patriotism is appreciated by the authorities or not. But it remains with the public after all to determine the existence of the Volunteer Rifle Corps for the future. It is impossible that men will be found, to u?e the words of Miss Nightingale " to give up their time, their strength and if need be tlieir lives for something not themselves," when they see their efforts call forth no responsive feelings of gratitude, or even common interest in the work they have undertaken. We should gladly see a revival of public interest in the volunteer movement at the present time sufficiently marked to induce the whole body to enter into the new regulations.. It must be remembered by those who have already partly perfected themselves in the military art, that they form an item in a great movement which is destined apparently to become universal, and that though for a short time, it may not flourish in New Zealand, eventually the country will have to look to it mainly for its means of defence.